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STEM Tuesday
  • STEM Tuesday-- Glow in the Dark -- Book List
    STEM Tuesday– Glow in the Dark — Book List
    October 1, 2024 by
    Ever wonder about fireflies or glowing ocean waves? Scientists are discovering just how many plants and animals use biofluorescence, bioluminescence, and ultra-violet light and how we might use these phenomena in the future.   Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a  Scientific Investigation by Maria Parrott-Ryan When a forest ecologist took an ultraviolet flashlight outside one night, he discovered something unexpected – a flying squirrel that glowed bright pink! The squirrel wasn’t making its own light using chemicals. Instead, it absorbed UV light and released it as the pink glow. This book dives into biofluorescence in animals and outlines future directions for scientific study. Nature at Night by Lisa Regan This visually stunning photo-illustrated book explores the ways plants and animals use biofluorescence, bioluminescence, and ultra-violet light for hunting, mating, or camouflage. In addition to aquatic animals, it also examines some unusual land-based ones, such as fungi, click beetles, chameleons, polka dot tree frogs, swallowtail butterflies, scorpions, and puffins....
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    STEM Tuesday — Inventions that Changed the World — Author Interview with Sarah Aronson
    September 24, 2024 by
    Welcome to STEM Tuesday: Author Interview, a repeating feature for the last Tuesday of every month. Go Science-Tech-Engineering-Math! Today we’re interviewing Sarah Aronson, author of the award winning book: Just Like Rube Goldberg.  The book is a fascinating look at the journey of a trained engineer who decides to take a job at a newspaper instead. His drawings of ridiculous inventions doing simple tasks became so popular, people use them as a starting point for creating their own “Goldberg” inventions. “Aronson notes that Goldberg ‘drew comics to make us look closer’; fittingly, this thoughtful, playful picture-book biography does just that, with whimsical pencil, ink, and digital illustrations capturing the machines’ intricacies.” – The Horn Book   Christine Taylor-Butler: Sarah, you are a prolific writer for both children’s fiction and nonfiction. But you didn’t start out as a writer? Sarah Aronson: I didn’t. I taught fitness then trained to become a...
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  • STEM Tuesday -- Inventions that Changed the World -- Writing Tips & Resources
    STEM Tuesday — Inventions that Changed the World — Writing Tips & Resources
    September 17, 2024 by
      My post is taking a little twist on “Inventions that Changed the World.”  I am looking to the future. When one thinks of inventions, you think – what?  Television, the wheel, steam engine, etc. Merriam Webster says invention noun: something invented: such as : a device, contrivance, or process originated after study and experiment. I picture thousands of “inventors” daily going about their jobs as parents, teachers, librarians, child care and elder care workers. People who are dedicated to helping others move into the future as successfully as they can. Each day these frontline workers invent devices, contrivances, and processes that assist themselves and their audience toward a better world. While there is no substitute for hard work, there are resources that contribute to making the job of “inventing” easier. I advocate for the similarity between the arts and sciences and participating in both can enrich the other. Scientific...
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  • STEM Tuesday -- Inventions that Changed the World -- In the Classroom
    STEM Tuesday — Inventions that Changed the World — In the Classroom
    September 10, 2024 by
      Inventions are new ideas or things that people create to make life easier or more fun. They help solve problems and improve how we live, like how light bulbs give us light or airplanes help us fly. Inventions make the world a better and exciting place! How have inventions changed your life? These books explore inventors and their inventions. They make a great starting point for invention classroom discussions and activities! Invent It! Written by Rob Beattie This fun and informative guide walks readers through the entire invention process, from brainstorming and prototyping all the way through production and marketing. Kids can follow along with their own ideas, learning practical tips along the way while being inspired by some of history’s best breakthroughs…and biggest flops!   Classroom Activity We use inventions every day, at home, work, and school. Ask students walk about the classroom and write down the inventions...
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Photo of Kirsten W. Larson

Kirsten W. Larson

Website: kirsten-w-larson.com

Biography

Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now she writes about both science and history for kids. She is the author of 25 nonfiction books, including the Robotics in Our World series (Amicus). Calkins Creek will publish her debut picture book, WOOD, WIRE, WINGS: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane (illus. by Tracy Subisak) in 2020. Originally from Virginia, Kirsten lives near Los Angeles. Find her at kirsten-w-larson.com or on Twitter and Instagram @KirstenWLarson.